Anyone can be appointed as a polling agent, provided that they are not:
the Constituency Returning Officer (CRO), the Regional Returning Officer (RRO), or a member of their staff (including any clerks appointed specifically for the election)1
an officer or clerk of the CRO, RRO, or a member of their staff2
a business partner or clerk of any of the above, unless they are a candidate3
anyone not entitled to vote at the election as a result of the report of an election court or a conviction for a corrupt or illegal practice under the Representation of the People Act 19834
Any constituency candidates, individual regional candidates and election agents of party lists can also automatically act as one of those agents without the need of an official appointment.5
Any number of polling agents can be appointed to attend each polling station but no more than one polling agent can be present in the polling station at any time on behalf of:6
the same candidate or political party
more than one candidate on a party’s regional list
A polling agent can be appointed to attend multiple polling stations.
Sub-agents may also attend the poll, but only instead of the election agent. Candidates right to attend will remain unaffected by this.
Polling agents must be appointed by not later than 5 working days before the poll.7
The request to appoint these agents must be made in writing to the relevant CRO.8
It must contain the names and addresses of the people being appointed. A polling agent appointment form can be obtained from the relevant Returning Officer or downloaded from our website.
If an agent dies or becomes incapable of acting, you may appoint another agent in their place by submitting the relevant appointment form to the CRO.9
Any new appointment in these circumstances must be made without delay.